You can be surrounded by people and still feel deeply alone. Laurel, Hạ, and Austen unpack how loneliness shows up in medical training and practice—not as physical isolation, but as emotional and social disconnection. They reflect on when loneliness hits hardest, when it eases, and what helps them feel seen in high-pressure environments. The conversation also explores how disconnection among clinicians shapes the care we give and the relationships we build with patients.
You can be surrounded by people and still feel deeply alone. Laurel, Hạ, and Austen unpack how loneliness shows up in medical training and practice—not as physical isolation, but as emotional and social disconnection. They reflect on when loneliness hits hardest, when it eases, and what helps them feel seen in high-pressure environments. The conversation also explores how disconnection among clinicians shapes the care we give and the relationships we build with patients.
Medical education is known for its demanding structure, but the toll it takes on students and physicians is rarely addressed with the same intensity. Nearly 30% of medical students experience depression, and rates of suicidal ideation are alarmingly high—three times greater than their same-age peers. Residents and attending physicians face similar challenges, often without access to the care and support they need.
Dr. Jenny Wei and third-year medical student Sanila Math join the conversation with Austen to explore the culture of rigidity in medicine—from its historical roots to its present-day consequences—across every stage of training. Together, they reflect on the weight of burnout and the importance of questioning systems that no longer serve doctors' well-being.